The Problem of Caffeine and Children

The question of caffeine and its effects on children has been one of those perennially perplexing subjects that has no easy answer in society. The problem is both complex and difficult to solve: What are the risks and benefits (if any) to children? At what age is it safe to ingest coffee and tea?

One issue is that while parents have no problem restricting tea and coffee from a child's diet until they have reached late adolescence/early adulthood, they routinely permit much younger children to drink soft drinks, which often contain caffeine as well (see my blog on the kola nut, written earlier this year).

There is little doubt that when it comes to most children, a certain amount of caffeine is a fact of life. The problem is not likely to go away; indeed, children drink on average 20 ounces of soda per day, twice as much as they did ten years ago, according to a web site entitled DrDolgoff.com. This web site argues that it is wise for parents to keep consumption of caffeine to a minimum, citing a whole host of problems that go along with caffeine use, including anxiety, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, increased heart rate etc.

Much of what is contained in the above web site is conventional wisdom; it represents the viewpoint of most responsible health care professionals. But I did come across one rather odd web site that argued the opposite about caffeine and children: After pointing to one study that finds coffee can prevent ailments such as Type II Diabetes (but only when one drinks up to six cups a day!) and Alzheimer's, the article goes on to say that children have improved concentration and a reduced incidence of depression when given coffee with their milk...

The article hastens to add that "a child's caffeine consumption should be closely monitored" and that it should be remembered that caffeine is an addictive substance.

The question of caffeine and its potentially addictive chemistry will form the subject of my next blog. My understanding at this point is that caffeine is only mildly addictive -- although that may vary with the individual. In any event, I will investigate further and let the reader know.